About Us

Our Story

Small Beginnings

Victorious Life Christian Church began as a small charismatic house church of about a dozen people in 1981. The group was a Troy offshoot of what was then known as Albany Christian Community located in Glenmont, New York. Sensing God's call to a greater commitment to His purposes and to one another, we incorporated as a local church in 1983 with the name, Troy Christian Community. Meeting in homes and various places, we continued to grow as we worshipped the Lord and sought His will for our lives. Many local college students and Capital Region families joined our congregation during this early season of growth. In 1986, Pastor Anthony Germano was ordained as senior pastor of the church.

A Home Grown Church

In 1987 we leased our first public place of worship in a downtown Troy storefront on River Street. During this time we developed outreaches to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Sage College as well as a heart for urban evangelism and ministry. Believing in house church ministry as a scriptural model for discipleship and growth, we continued to establish our home groups to accommodate our growing congregation. Our young families also grew with many children causing us to establish a children's ministry to accommodate our children during our Sunday service.

A New Home and a New Name

In 1988 we affiliated with a network of like-minded local churches which helped establish our youthful, home grown congregation. With a firm commitment to team ministry, we ordained Dominick Brignola and Brian Barker as elders during this time. Without space to grow in our storefront, we sought a larger place to meet. In 1991 we purchased the former St. John's Lutheran Church in downtown Troy, an 11,000 square foot facility with a seating capacity of 300 for the bargain price of $90,000. At this time we changed our name to Victorious Life Christian Church, committing to being an urban congregation with a viable mission to its community.

An Established Vision

With this next season came building renovations, training our deaconate, and seeking to clarify our urban vision in a time when many churches were forsaking the cities and the poor. Believing that the gospel of Jesus Christ is truly the hope of every community we decided to remain based in the city making Troy our home. This decision came in 1996, perhaps one of Troy's bleakest years. At this time, Troy was on the brink of bankruptcy and was required to be financially regulated by the State. Troy City Hall was put up for sale and Troy was among the most distressed cities in New York State.

In 1997, Pastor Tony answered the call to trans-local ministry, at which time Pastor Dominick Brignola was ordained as senior pastor. Pastor Dominick brought strong conviction and vision to our urban vision and established Arise and Build Community Ministries, a not-for-profit Christian ministry dedicated to serving the needs of the inner-city. Alight Care Center was established, as well as Provisions Community Food and Storehouse. Victorious Life is currently governed by a bi-vocational eldership team and continues to grow in this vision. Philip Smith was ordained and joined the eldership team in 2002. Joseph Rice and Lindsay Todd were ordained and joined the eldership team in 2010. Now a congregation of about 200, we are seeking to expand our leadership team and continue to find creative ways to reach our community with the gospel.

We Have a Future and a Hope

We have had much joy seeing Victorious Life become established in the last thirty years. We have impacted the lives of thousands of households through our many community outreaches and have genuinely experienced God's grace upon us as we have grown. However, for Victorious Life, we believe the best years are yet to come. Troy's economy and outlook has improved greatly since 1996 and the Capital Region is preparing for considerable economic growth.

Through every season of our journey, Victorious Life has remained a strong, growing local church with an exceptional vision and a deep devotion to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Together with Him, we are becoming a prevailing, multi-generational local church with growing influence in the city of Troy, the Capital Region and beyond. We invite you to partner with us in this unfolding story of God's love and redemption.